The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959)
The classic CBS sitcom that turned a lovesick teen dreamer and his beatnik best friend into enduring American icons.
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Series Information
- Original Title: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
- First Air Year: 1959
- Last Air Year: 1963
- Created by: Max Shulman
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (28 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 147
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 29, 1959 (United States - TV-PG), September 29, 1959 (Canada - PG), September 29, 1959 (Germany - 16), September 29, 1959 (France - 16), September 29, 1959 (Mexico - B), September 29, 1959 (Spain - 13)
- Networks: CBS
- Production Companies: Martin Manulis Productions, 20th Century Fox Television
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Plot
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1959 to 1963. The series and several episode scripts were adapted from a 1951 collection of short stories of the same name, written by Max Shulman, who had also written a feature film adaptation of his short stories for MGM in 1953, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis. The series revolved around the life of teenager/young adult Dobie Gillis, who, along with his best friend, beatnik Maynard G. Krebs, struggles against the forces of his life - high school, the military, college, and his parents - as he aspires to attain both wealth and dates with girls. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis was produced by Martin Manulis Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Creator Shulman also wrote the theme song in collaboration with Lionel Newman.
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The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Max Shulman
Main Cast
- Dwayne Hickman
- Bob Denver
- Frank Faylen
- Florida Friebus
- Sheila James Kuehl
- William Schallert
- Doris Packer
- Tuesday Weld
- Jean Byron
- Marjorie Bennett
Writers
- Max Shulman
- Joel Kane
- Dean Riesner
- Rod Amateau
- Terry Ryan
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - FAQs
Where can you stream The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis?
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is available to stream for free with ads on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Cineverse, Tubi TV, and Plex. It can also be purchased on Amazon Video and Google Play Movies, and streamed via fuboTV and the Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
Is The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis based on a true story?
Not a true story, but rooted in real literary source material. The series was adapted from Max Shulman's 1951 collection of short stories of the same name. Shulman had also written a 1953 MGM film adaptation, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis, before bringing the characters to CBS television.
Did Warren Beatty appear in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis?
Warren Beatty appeared in the series early in his career, playing the wealthy rival Milton Armitage. It was one of his first major television roles before he became a Hollywood star. His charismatic performance as Dobie's snobbish nemesis remains one of the show's most talked-about casting choices.
How many seasons and episodes does the show have?
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis ran for four seasons on CBS, producing 147 episodes in total. Season 1 featured 39 episodes, while Seasons 2, 3, and 4 each contained 36 episodes. There is also a specials season with one additional episode.
Who are the main actors in the series?
Dwayne Hickman stars as the lovesick Dobie Gillis, with Bob Denver as his iconic beatnik best friend Maynard G. Krebs. The supporting cast includes Frank Faylen, Florida Friebus, Sheila James Kuehl, William Schallert, Doris Packer, Tuesday Weld, Jean Byron, and Marjorie Bennett.
Did Bob Denver's role influence his later career?
Absolutely. Bob Denver's portrayal of the lazy, jazz-loving beatnik Maynard G. Krebs made him a household name and directly paved the way for his most iconic role — the hapless Gilligan on Gilligan's Island (1964). Maynard is widely credited as one of television's first breakout comedic sidekick characters.
When did The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis first air?
The series premiered on September 29, 1959, on CBS. It ran continuously for four seasons until 1963, making it one of the defining teen sitcoms of the early television era.
What shows are similar to The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis?
Fans of the show's coming-of-age humor may enjoy Never Have I Ever, On My Block, PEN15, and Saved by the Bell for their sharp teen comedy sensibilities. For classic sitcom nostalgia, Silver Spoons and The New Andy Griffith Show share a similar lighthearted spirit from the same era.
More About The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
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